Lynn Cody
Robbinsville – Budget season has fallen upon the three local municipalities, as well as the county itself.
A lot of eyes are on the board of commissioners, as the county simultaneously puts the final touches on a 2022-23 audit while also having to deliver tough news to department heads who are seeking everything from raises to upgrades in facilities.
The board convened for a budget discussion April 8, which provided some insight on what the county has planned concerning the 2025-26 spending cycle. Finance officer Stacy Carpenter noted that no raises were going to be issued to any department, while asking commissioners for their opinions on how to balance the draft.
"I went through this like Stacy has: backwards and forward," said commissioner Lynn Cody. "A budget is a projection and it can change in a heartbeat. Things may look bad, but things in the next couple of months could change.
"It's a difficult year – not just for us, but all across Western North Carolina. Everybody is seeing hardship and reductions in revenue. Cuts are being made everywhere."
Cody added that around $1 million had already been trimmed from the projected budget, which will go into effect Tuesday, July 1. The current cycle ends Monday, June 30.
"A lot of people's not happy, but they have to understand that our population is not young like it used to be," Cody continued. "We're now the generation that is going to be facing a restricted income and that restricted income plays a part in the contribution to the county tax base.
"We still want to provide the services that we do, but sometimes we've got to take and give a little bit to make that happen."
Commission chair Meggan Smith suggested a long-term solution to the financial windfall: an increase in sales tax. Smith proposed a resolution to appear on the next county-level ballot in 2026, which would bump the current tax from 6.25%.
"We have room to go up on that, if we can just figure out how to get through this year and not go up on property tax," Smith said, adding that other counties charge a 6.75% sales tax.
Surrounding counties like Cherokee, Clay and Swain all charge 7%, according to the North Carolina Department of Revenue's website.
Smith also suggested an increase to the ¼-cent sales tax that is being collected for the long-planned Graham County Justice Center. A referendum to implement the ¼ cent-collection passed in 2018; at Tuesday's commissioner meeting, it was noted that $1,623,452.84 had been gathered overall through February.